A growing push is mounting to allow people to eat takeout food at outdoor restaurant spaces.

Due to the coronavirus, dining anywhere is currently off-limits, hurting many eateries' profits. Restaurant owners have started a petition asking New York to allow safe outdoor seating for takeout customers.

Jack Palladino, owner of Christopher's in Huntington, believes it can be done safely.

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"We are looking into the possibility of closing some streets down - basically putting tables and chairs where you can," says Palladino.

Kerry Blanchard, who runs The Snapper Inn in Oakdale, started the petition. She hopes customers will be able to eat on the lawn, in the parking lot or deck.

Mark Miller, who owns six restaurants across Long Island including The Boat Yard at Tobay Beach, says it is a financial do-or-die.

Nassau County Executive Laura Curran and some other local leaders have approved of the idea.

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"They're problem solvers that's why they are in business in the first place, and I think they can come up and are coming up with ways to keep them in business and mitigate risks to their employees and their customers," says Curran.

But Curran says the last word goes to the governor.

If The Snapper Inn is given the green light on the plan, they will hang signs letting patrons know they have to practice social distancing.

The Town of Hempstead and some other Long Island municipalities plan on waiving fees related to permits for outdoor dining.